Sudan Elections: Polling Booths Remain Deserted as Opposition Calls for Boycott

Sudan went to polls on Monday to elect a president and a new parliament in the first elections since the partition of South Sudan in 2011. 

The Opposition has boycotted the polls that will be held over three days from Monday to Wednesday, as President Omar Hassan al-Bashir is expected to retain power. 

Several protests against the polls have broken out over the last week, leading to arrests and violence. 

The opposition has called for elections to be held in a more "peaceful" atmosphere, demanding more press freedom and release of political prisoners, according to Al Jazeera.

With the opposition political figures out of the picture, Bashir's National Congress Party will see little competition from lesser known rivals, and the results are likely to be one-sided.

• While 13 million citizens are registered as voters, the turnout may be affected by the protests. 

• Photos showed deserted polling booths across the country, as the Opposition boycott seemed to work in keeping voters away.
  

  #Sudan #Election #polls #boycott Photos via @Muhdawi FB page pic.twitter.com/cT80PYDtaV

  — Tagreed (@taggy_) April 13, 2015

  Seems turnout is low in Khartoum and around #Sudan #sudandecides This photo from Jerief pic.twitter.com/dzX6MqwOuw

  — Gordon Khartoum (@gordonkhartoum) April 13, 2015

  #Sudan elections boycott: Mon 13th- We asked for a picture to sum-up 1st polling day. Sinnar state. @RT3Sudan pic.twitter.com/ODz6uWU1pJ

  — AliAbdelatif (@AliAbdelatif) April 13, 2015

• The initial results will be indicated after polling ends on Wednesday, while the final results are likely to be declared on 27 April.